Characterisation of the heat-stable bacteriocin-producing and vancomycin-sensitive Pediococcus pentosaceus CFR B19 isolated from beans.

A bacteriocin-producing lactic culture with antilisterial activity was isolated from beans and identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus CFR B19. It was able to grow and produce bacteriocin at 41 °C but not at 50 °C. This isolate was found to be sensitive to vancomycin and produced heat-stable (at 121 °C for 15 min) bacteriocin. Molecular weight of the purified bacteriocin was found to be ∼4.8 kDa. This isolate can be used as a starter culture or co-culture in fermented milk products and the bacteriocin can be used as a natural preservative in various food products.